After a devastating car accident and two rounds of major surgery, 13-year-old Charlotte Wallace is hoping 2017 sees her get back on her feet.

2016 has been a difficult year for the Netherhall schoolgirl, who was knocked over on her way to school in January.

Paramedics and the air ambulance scrambled to her aid in Queen Edith’s Way, rushing her to Addenbrooke’s for emergency surgery.

However, it was a team of off-duty medics walking on their way to work who were first on the scene, caring for her on the roadside.

Now, after missing several weeks of school, three months in a wheelchair and hours of gruelling physiotherapy, she is back on the long road to recovery.

Charlotte and Catherine at their home in Cambridge (Image: Warren Gunn)

Her mother Catherine told the News despite the difficult times, she had managed to remain positive.

“The only word I can use to describe her is determination – she has surprised me how she can get through things”, she said.

“She has just got on with it and doesn’t let it phase her. She just continues with the attitude ‘they are doing it to make me better and help me get stronger’.

“Despite missing weeks of school she even managed to get an award for her maths, which was a very proud moment for us.”

In the collision Charlotte suffered a severe break to her femur and was rushed into theatre the day of her accident, when she had metal support rods inserted into her leg.

Charlotte Wallace, pictured in Addenbrooke's following her accident in January

After learning to walk again, and even managing to re-join her schoolmates for PE lessons, she went back under the knife last month to have the rods removed and is now relying on an elbow crutch to get around.

Catherine said: “We’ve had to make a lot of adjustments, but we’re trying to get on with things and keep things as normal as possible.

“Rods were put in to stabilise her femur, they have come out and we are just waiting now to build up the muscles.”

13-year-old Charlotte Wallace (Image: Warren Gunn)

However the last 11 months have taken their toll on her parents, Catherine and Derek, and their other children, Alice, 10 and James, five.

Catherine said: “Psychologically it has been a real struggle, she’s had flashbacks and lots of nightmares.

“For a while I was sleeping downstairs with her during the night and not getting a lot of sleep for a long time.

“It was a challenge, lots of adjustments for all of us had to be made and we had to be aware of the limitations in terms of what we do as a family.”

The team who rushed to Charlotte’s aid at the roadside were all medical professionals and included an orthopaedic doctor, a paediatric nurse and a paediatric physio on their way to work.

Catherine said: “All the doctors have been absolutely wonderful, they have been there to explain everything to me, to help me when I have been upset as to what is going on.

Charlotte and Catherine Wallace, pictured in Addenbrooke's in January (Image: David Johnson)

“They always kept us both as informed as we can be, and Charlotte is never excluded from the conversation.”

The family spent their Christmas in Scotland with Charlotte’s grandfather, and are now looking ahead to her 14th birthday next month.

“She spent her last birthday in hospital, so we’re hoping to do something special”, said Catherine.

“We have got tickets to the Arts Theatre to see Annie, as she loves her amateur dramatics, and we’re taking a few of her friends out for dinner.

“But now we are up in Scotland seeing my father-in-law which is really nice, it gives us a break and an opportunity to do some more as a family.